Mabel woke up with a pervasive feeling of dread. She rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling, tracing the early morning shadows on its wood. She was still trapped in Gravity Rises. Still separated from her parents, who had no idea what she was going through. Still hiding like a refugee from a demon who wanted to kill her.

It was January eleventh. One day before Mabel and Dipper were supposed to go home. What would happen tomorrow when the bus tried to come and pick them up? Would there be another car crash, but on the other side of the barrier? Mabel hoped somebody had had the idea to put warnings next to the barrier so that nobody else would get hurt.

She turned her head and looked at Dipper, who was sleeping peacefully with an arm draped over Waddles and a thread of drool dripping down his cheek. Was he as worried as she was? He didn't seem to be. But he had been comforting her a lot this past week; maybe she was too selfish to notice that he was also scared. She made a guilty mental note to spend more time asking about his needs and less time demanding that he meet hers.

Her bed was warm and comfortable; she didn't want to get out of it. But she also felt restless. So she leaned over, picked up her socks, pulled them on, and got out of bed. Her socks kept her from feeling the cold wooden floor as she crept out of the room. She wondered if Ford was awake yet.

A glance across the attic told her that Ford's air mattress was unoccupied. Mabel went down the stairs, wondering if she'd find him in the kitchen. He wasn't there, but Janice was, cooking breakfast. Mabel gave the woman an awkward "good morning" and retreated. She headed for Ford's room to find Melody.

Melody came out from Ford's room when Mabel knocked. "Good morning," Melody said quietly.

"Morning," Mabel said. "Where's Ford?"

"Already with the minotaurs," Melody said. "June came early and said that something had happened with Stanley."

Mabel's eyes widened. "Is he okay?"

"She said he's safe. I don't know any more than that. Ford left with her, and I don't know when he'll be back."

Mabel sighed inwardly. Ford was spending a lot of time in the minotaur village with Lee. It made sense, given that this last week was the first time the brothers had seen each other in thirty years, but Mabel still felt a little left behind.

At least she and Dipper had gotten to visit Lee last night. It had been a relief to see him again.

"Melody, do you think. . ." The words were out of her mouth before Mabel realized that she was talking. She pressed her lips together and glanced to the floor.

"What is it?" asked Melody. Before Mabel could answer, though, the woman seemed to understand. "Are you worried about tomorrow?"

Mabel nodded, forcing herself to look up at Melody. "Do you think there's any chance of me and Dipper getting home?"

Melody didn't answer at first. She put an arm around Mabel. "I hope so. We'll figure something out."

"Will we?" Mabel asked, frustration leaking into her voice. "We haven't been doing anything. We've just been sitting here, hiding, while Ford makes plans with the minotaurs — but apparently they haven't figured anything out, either. It's hard to keep hoping when magical creatures tell you that their magic isn't strong enough!"

"Who said their magic wasn't strong enough?" Melody said.

"They did!" Mabel moved away from Melody. "June said there was nothing she could do. Andrew said he only had theories for how to help. And nobody's gone to get Pacifica, even though Gideon said that it was the next thing we should do!"

"Ford and Andrew went last night, actually," Melody said. "Ford said she wasn't at the Order, and the passage to the Northwest Manor had been caved in."

"What?" said Mabel. "Why didn't he tell me?"

"You were in bed by the time he got back," Melody said gently. "We're not trying to keep anything from you."

This felt like such a stark lie that Mabel couldn't answer for a moment. "Yeah, right!" she finally said. "Andrew wouldn't tell me about the magic he was putting up around the Museum, in case Bill could use the information somehow. Ford won't tell me anything he's learned from the minotaurs except the stuff he thinks Bill already knows. I'm surprised he even told you that they went to the Order last night, the way he's been keeping secrets!"

"I know it's frustrating," Melody said. "I'm sorry."

Mabel folded her arms. "I hate being stuck here." Yes, she realized that she would probably be too much of a coward to be any help, but she wanted to do something.

"You probably don't want to hear this, but it's to keep you safe," Melody said.

Mabel didn't want to hear that. Except. . . well, okay, she did. She was glad that she was safe, that eight Symbols were safe here in the Museum. But that didn't stop the boredom, frustration, and worry that had been Mabel's constant companions for the last few days.

The door to Ford's bedroom opened. "Everything okay out here?" asked Fidds.

Mabel turned pink. "Oh. S-sorry. Did I wake you up?"

Fidds smiled genially but didn't answer the question. "Any more luck with Pacifica?" he asked Melody.

"Not that I know of," Melody said with a shake of her head. "Ford left early today; apparently something happened with Stanley last night."

The smile slipped from Fidds' face. "Cipher contacted me last night," he said. "First time I've seen him in thirty years. He told me about what happened."

"Really? What happened?" Mabel asked.

"Apparently that deal between Cipher and Stanley was suppressing Stanley's anger," Fidds said. "That's what Lee got in return for letting Bill possess him. Last night, Lee told Bill that he needed his anger back, and Bill agreed. But—"

"Wait, so Bill broke the deal?" Hope rushed through Mabel's veins. "Lee can join the Cipher Wheel?"

"No," Fidds said. "Well, yes, Bill broke the deal. But he forced Lee to make another deal. One that gave Bill the same power to possess him."

The hope fled immediately. "Oh," Mabel said quietly.

"Cipher basically told me that Lee has his anger back now, and it's partly directed at me, so I'd better watch out." Fidds was quiet for a moment. "No wonder he acted so kind yesterday. He probably wanted to be angry with me, but he couldn't."

Mabel couldn't wrap her mind around this. Grunkle Lee hadn't felt angry since he'd made that deal with Bill? What would that be like?

"Now both brothers hate me," Fidds added, his voice subdued. "Like they should."

Instinctively, Mabel moved to take Fidds' hand. She didn't know what to say, so she just said, "I don't hate you."

Fidds looked at her, then lifted his eyepatch and rubbed at his eyes. "Thanks, Mabel."

She gave what she hoped was a comforting smile. It was a little strange that she didn't hate Fiddleford, to be honest. She had hated him, back when she'd only known him as the traitor who'd stolen Ford's memory and Journals. But now that she actually knew him, she couldn't imagine hating him.

"Breakfast is ready!" Janice's voice carried through the Museum. Mabel's stomach rumbled; good thing she was on the first shift for breakfast today.

"Well, let's go," Melody said. "Fidds, how are you feeling without your walker? You haven't been using it as much these past couple days."

"I feel fine without it," Fidds said. "Just a little slow."

This answer satisfied Melody, and the three of them headed to the kitchen. They passed Gideon in the hall; he had a bundle of clothes in his arms and was presumably on his way to the bathroom to change.

Dipper ran down the stairs to meet them when they'd almost gotten to the kitchen. "Morning!" he said. His shoelaces flapped around his tennis shoes, and he bent down to tie them. Mabel didn't know why he put on shoes every morning — it's not like they were planning on going anywhere — but that was Dipper for you.

Mabel entered the kitchen; Dipper finished tying his shoes and jogged after her. Janice was serving the food, but Melody took over; Janice withdrew to wait for the next shift, when she'd eat breakfast with her husband and son.

Mabel, Dipper, Fidds, and Melody had already started eating when Gideon entered, dressed in his usual dress shirt, sweater vest, and slacks. He pulled up the fifth chair (which had come from Ford's lab) and silently sat down.

"Good morning, Gideon," Melody said.

"Good morning," he replied cordially, but he didn't look at her.

Breakfast passed without incident. Janice wasn't as good of a cook as Melody, but it was still decent food. Mabel ate quickly — she didn't want to make the Corduroys wait for too long — and stood up to take her dishes to the sink.

Then she saw something in the corner of her eye.

She turned to the window and frowned. What was that? Some kind of bird flying past?

"Mabes? Watcha lookin' at?"

"I dunno." Mabel put her dishes back on the table and moved to the window. "Did anybody else see that? Something just moved by the window."

Gideon stood up and came to her side. "I don't see anything."

"I don't see it anymore, but — Wait, look!"

Something came into view. No, not something: someone. A person in a camouflage suit — but a white one, like it was made for hiding in the snow — stepped into view. They were just past the barrier, which Melody had marked with signs to stop people from unknowingly walking into it. The person in the snow suit seemed unconcerned about the barrier as they walked beside it.

"Who's that?" Dipper had come to the window. "Did the Order members get an upgrade?"

"No," Gideon said grimly. "That suit looks like it's from the Manor."

Mabel glanced to him. "So it's one of your servants?"

"One of Cipher's servants, now," Gideon corrected.

"Why would you guys have snow camo suits?" Dipper asked.

"Don't ask me," Gideon said with a shrug. "We have all sorts of things."

Another servant, dressed in the same snow camouflage, came into view. Through the window, Mabel could hear them call to the first servant, and the two met up and started talking.

"What are they doing here?" Mabel asked. None of the possibilities that she could think of were good.

"My guess? Keeping us trapped in here," Gideon said. "We're safe from them, but they want us to know that we can't leave."

"It's a good thing we got all our supplies, then," Melody said.

"Weren't we going to take the lanterns around town today?" Gideon asked.

"What lanterns?" Mabel asked. Then she realized. "Lanterns from the Order? They got some last night?" She gave Gideon an accusatory look. "Wait, Ford told you that he went, but not me?"

"I was awake when he got back; you weren't," Gideon said simply.

"Greg and Janice were going to take the lanterns around town, it's true," Melody said. "I guess we have to change our plans." She glanced out the window, where the Northwest servants — or, Cipher's servants — had finished their conversation and were walking away from each other.

Gideon looked out the window with a calculating gaze, then sighed. "Well, I'll go talk to them. See if I can get anything out of them."

"What? No, it's too dangerous," Melody said.

Gideon rolled his eyes. "I won't go anywhere near the barrier. They can't get in. It'll be fine."

"I'll come with you," Dipper said.

Gideon glanced at him. "Fine, but let me do the talking."

Mabel highly doubted that Dipper would be able to follow that instruction, but she didn't say anything. Dipper and Gideon glanced at her, asking silently if she wanted to come with them; she shook her head. She felt trapped in the Museum, yes, but she didn't think she'd be able to handle herself out there. Her latest experience with these servants had involved them threatening her as bait to draw Gideon out of the basement. Not an experience she liked to think about.

Dipper ran from the kitchen to get his snow gear, and Gideon followed. "Be safe," Melody called after them.

The Corduroys came into the kitchen soon after the boys left, and Mabel left with Melody and Fidds. Dipper and Gideon had gone out the front door; Mabel peered through the door's small diamond-shaped window but couldn't see them.

"I shouldn't have let them go out there," Melody said.

"You wouldn't have been able to stop them," Mabel pointed out. "Besides, if anyone should talk to those guys, it's Gideon. He knows them."

Melody acknowledged this with an unhappy nod.

Mabel went over the couch and sat, waiting for the boys. Gideon's suitcase and blanket were on the floor beside the couch; the blanket was folded neatly. Mabel felt a little awkward sitting in the place where Gideon had been sleeping not too long ago, but it was the couch. Sitting here was normal. Mabel sat back and sighed.

After quite a few minutes of worry and boredom, the front door opened. "Those jerks!" said Dipper, stomping his snow-covered shoes on the porch. "Those — they're terrible!"

"You've already said that five times, Dipper," said Gideon wearily. The boys came inside, and Gideon closed the door behind them.

"What'd they say?" Mabel asked.

"I was right about why they're here," Gideon said. "They want us to think that Cipher has us trapped."

"They were talking like we were animals!" Dipper added. "Like we're just here until Bill wants to butcher us for meat!"

Mabel shuddered all over. "They said that?"

"No, but they were acting like it," Gideon said. "Not too unusual for them, unfortunately."

"They're awful!" Dipper said.

Mabel pulled her knees up to her chest. That was awful. First she and everyone else hid from Bill in the Museum, and now the demon had sent his minions to turn their hiding place into a prison. What had her winter break come to? Hadn't she originally been excited for adventures and excitement here in Gravity Rises? Now she was stuck in the Museum with a bounty on her head.

Some winter break.

Dipper came and sat by Mabel on the couch. "I'll keep you safe, Mabes," he said. "It'll be okay."

"Don't lie," Mabel muttered. "They're right. We're basically just waiting in here until Bill comes for us."

"Andrew is—"

"Andrew isn't doing anything," Mabel snapped. "He helped trap us in here."

Dipper flinched at her harsh tone. Mabel's gaze softened. "Sorry, Dip," she whispered.

He put an arm around her. "It'll be okay," he repeated.

Did he really believe that?

Mabel closed her eyes and leaned against her brother. Whether he believed it or not, Mabel needed someone to at least pretend to be confident. She needed to keep hoping that maybe, just maybe, everything would turn out okay.

But it didn't feel like it would be okay.

Mabel had woken up with a feeling of dread. And that feeling had only gotten worse. And it was only breakfast time.

This was going to be a long day.

~~~~~

Now that Lee had his anger back, it seemed like it would never leave.

Ford had been there when Lee had woken up this morning. Lee had done his best to explain to Ford and Xítway what had happened last night, but it was hard: Even thinking about it made him angry. The anger burned low in Lee's chest, and he lashed out at both Xítway and Ford even for small things.

It wasn't really them he was angry at. It was Bill. But his anger could hardly tell the difference.

Ford's reaction wasn't helping. After expressing his initial horror that Lee hadn't felt true anger in twenty years, Ford sat on the bench and became quiet and thoughtful. "What's wrong?" Lee asked.

Ford glanced at him. "This is why. Why you've been so. . . different."

That rubbed Lee the wrong way, though he didn't know why. He folded his arms. "It has been thirty years," he said.

"I know, but. . . it's been almost like. . . like you're a completely different person. And this is why. You haven't had your anger."

Lee bristled.

"I didn't mean — you're still my brother, Lee, no matter what—"

"You want me to be Stanley," Lee interrupted. "Right? You want Stanley back. You worked so hard to get your Journals back and open that portal so you could get Stanley back."

Ford didn't answer at first. "I wanted my brother back," he said in a measured voice.

"Even if he's not Stanley anymore?" Lee felt angry, but it was a thin anger; it poorly disguised Lee's fear and uncertainty about his identity. "I am a completely different person, Ford, even with my anger. I'm not Stanley. Fidds murdered Stanley."

Ford flinched. "I. . . I know."

"Do you? Or do you keep hoping that I'll become Stanley again? Because — I'm not—" Lee dropped onto the bench beside Ford. "I don't know who I am," he said, "but I'm not Stanley."

There was another long pause before Ford answered. "You're still my brother," Ford finally said, "right?"

The words brought a new feeling to Lee's mind. Thinking about Stanley and Lee's lost identity and everything that had happened with Bill last night — that all brought confusion and anger. But when Lee thought about the simple fact that he was Ford's brother. . .

That brought him just a tiny bit of peace.

"Yes," Lee said. "I can be your brother. I just. . . I can't be Stanley."

"You don't have to be," Ford said.

"Good."

After that exchange, Lee thought he'd feel calmer, but he didn't. He felt hot and stifled. Part of him still wanted to leave this stupid hut and hunt down Fiddleford and get revenge. Since that wasn't an option, he asked Xítway if he could spar with her. She agreed, and Lee felt a little better as he threw punches and deflected Xítway's blows.

As Lee and Xítway sparred, Lee noticed Ford watching on the side. He had a small, relieved smile on his face. Seeing that expression only made Lee more angry, for some reason. He redoubled his efforts against Xítway.

The sparring could only last so long, though, before Lee got tired. He plopped down on the bench next to Ford; he was winded, but he still felt as if he were full of captive energy. "What time is it?" he asked.

"Still mid-morning," Xítway answered.

Lee groaned and put his head in his hands. Bill was right when he said that Lee would be more frustrated with his captivity after last night's deals. Lee wasn't sure if he could handle one more minute of this.

But it wasn't even noon yet.

This was going to be a long day.

~~~~~

Today was the day. Caleb was almost sick with anticipation.

For the past three days, Caleb had made plans with Cipher and, through Cipher, with Pacifica Pleasure as well. Today, Pacifica would come to the minotaur village with some of Cipher's servants. Caleb would steal the dagger and present it to them, and they'd also rescue Lincoln. By the end of the day, if Caleb was successful, the township would start. Caleb and Yingtai and Candy would be on their way to their new home.

Caleb didn't know how the servants planned to rescue Lincoln, but he did know how they'd get the dagger. The plan was simple enough. Enoch would be in the dagger's cave when Pacifica and the servants arrived. While Pacifica pretended to negotiate with Andrew, Caleb would slip into the cave and join Enoch. He'd take the dagger, deliver it to Pacifica, and join her and the servants as they returned to town. Caleb would go to Yingtai's house, join his wife, and finally, finally reveal himself to his daughter.

He was so excited and nervous that he could hardly think clearly.

He was a little worried about the other minotaurs chasing him and imprisoning him. But Cipher had assured him that everything would be fine. If Caleb went with Cipher's servants, they would protect him.

Still, it wasn't fair in the least to leave without an explanation. So Caleb had written a note that Andrew and the others could find after he was gone. The message would explain everything. No holding back. The whole truth. Caleb hoped that someone would find the note — and that Caleb himself would be long gone when they did.

The morning passed slowly. Caleb spent it working on the reconstruction efforts, as he had for the past week. He kept glancing up at the sun, willing it to move across the sky. Pacifica would come in the early afternoon. That's also when Enoch would go to the cave to guard the dagger. Caleb had to wait until then.

How could he wait? He had waited for over a decade, and he was finally close to getting what he'd wanted for so long. Not only that, but he was also close to betraying his brother, which filled him with almost as much dread as his excitement. He just wanted to get the whole thing over with. He didn't want to see Andrew's and Enoch's pain, and he wanted to be with Yingtai and Candy.

But he had to wait.

The sun didn't seem to move at all. It taunted Caleb from above.

This was going to be a long day.